Priorities Rebuilding Around a New Quarterback

by bbxxj on Feb 16, 2012 9:29 AM EST

I don't want this thread to be a discussion about specific players necessarily but rather more about philosophy of building a team from the quarterback up. Assuming Manning is gone and Luck is brought it the Colts will need to be very careful not to mess up this outstanding opportunity to rebuild a dynasty. As most of us would agree the key to the rebuilding process is Andrew Luck. What is next though on your list to address? I think it is one of three categories: defense, offensive line or targets for Luck.

Personally I would spend as many resources as I can afford to finding targets for Luck. This would be a little different if we didn't already have on our roster a pair of top 50 overall pick offensive tackles taken just last year. The most important thing for the future of our franchise is the development of our quarterback. Everything else is secondary. Getting targets for him in the form of wide receivers or tight ends that allow him to grow and help him succeed should be first priority after getting Luck himself.

Next I would address the protection of Luck by addressing the line. We already have our long term tackles but getting some help in the interior is needed especially someone with some experience at center who can help Luck learn to get the line set in game situations. This also goes for any theoretical rebuilding team who just drafted a new quarterback - after getting some targets make sure you protect him.

Only after you help and protect your new ultimate investment at quarterback should you turn to investing on defense. If you are behind and losing all the time because of a bad defense it will have an effect on a young quarterback but not nearly as much as getting your quarterback killed or not having anyone for him to throw to and develop. Defense is something that can be addressed in a few years when you can be a truly elite team with a developed quarterback.

Poll

What is your order of priority in rebuilding around a new quarterback?

1. Defense 2. Targets 3. Protection

14 votes

1. Defense 2. Protection 3. Targets

29 votes

1. Protection 2. Targets 3. Defense

29 votes

1. Protection 2. Defense 3. Targets

41 votes

1. Targets 2. Defense 3. Protection

6 votes

1. Targets 2. Protection 3. Defense

7 votes

126 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Comments

Hmm, difficult question...

I agree with a lot of the things you said, but it sounds exactly like the path that the Indianapolis Colts took with Peyton Manning’s career. And it resulted in a team that relied 100% on Peyton Manning.

We saw Manning make his weapons look better than they really are. Austin Collie is a solid slot WR, Manning made him look like a Pro-Bowler. Jacob Tamme is a backup TE with limited athletic ability, Manning made him look like an elite TE. Blair White probably isn’t an NFL-caliber WR, Manning made him look like a solid slot WR.

I think Offensive Line is important, I think defense is important. Defensively, it’s more about philosophy. Give me a defense with an average talent but elite schemes and philosophies over a defense with elite talent and an average philosophy.

If it were up to me, I’d find Luck a long-term TE and a long-term WR. Those guys could be Dwayne Allen or Coby Fleener (2nd round pick) and Pierre Garcon (if he’s re-signed). I just don’t think the team needs to go overboard to supply Luck with elite weapons. If he’s truly great, he’ll make the players around him better, much like Manning did. Just imagine how many SB’s the Colts would have if they fielded an elite defense with Peyton Manning.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 16, 2012 10:18 AM EST reply actions

That is a very good point about relying to heavily on the quarterback and investing too heavily on his weapons. I think my idea is to make Luck’s life as easy as possible while he is developing for the first few years but eventually start investing in defense as Luck becomes more of a one man show (we hope) who is able to make average guys great.

Basically I want the Colts to draft WR/TE/OG in some order 2-4 in the draft, sign a veteran center, resign Garcon and/or another WR like Donnie Avery, retain Mathis and then spend whatever little is left creatively filling holes on defense.

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by bbxxj on Feb 16, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Think about this though

You mention “make Luck’s life as easy as possible” – we often equate an easy life for a QB with having as many weapons as possible.

But what about giving him a top5 defense? Joe Flacco’s job is incredible easy in Baltimore. He isn’t asked to throw 40 times a game, 300 yards and 3 TD’s to win the Ravens some playoff games. He’s afforded good field position, and often knows he only needs 17-24 points to win any given Sunday. (BTW – I don’t think Flacco’s that great of a QB, I don’t think he’s capable of carrying a team like Brady/Manning/Brees/Rodgers/etc.).

That’s why I think Luck needs 1 or 2 reliable weapons to grow with, and an elite defense. If Luck is as good as advertised, he can make some mediocre weapons look great. He can lead an average offense to 25-30 points per game, much like Manning has always been capable of.

If I’ve learned anything from the past 13 years, it’s that a QB cannot win the SuperBowl on his own. Even Manning’s ring came in large part to the Colts’ defense stepping up. Nowadays, any NFL offense with an elite QB can put up points. The Packers aren’t phenomenal because of Jordy Nelson and JerMichael Finley. The Patriots aren’t scary because of Wes Welker and Gronk. Obviously they improve an offense, but a QB is priority 1, priority 2, and priority 3.

Surround Luck with a defense and a few young, reliable weapons.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 16, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

You’re not going to build a top 5 defense in one draft. But we can bolster Luck’s development in one draft.

And I think the last 13 yrs have shown us that only great QBs can win super bowls. The defense has to be solid, especially in the playoffs. But we don’t need top 5… top 15 is good enough as long as they apply pressure and are quick and aggressive.

Luck desperately needs protection, lest he become Sam Bradford.

by DoItAlone on Feb 19, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

I agree about a TE. If Allen falls out of the 1st, you have to take him.

Most important is solidifying the offensive line and building a strong defense. Any QB can be great given enough time. Most of the top picks that bust are due to a poor O-line. Brady and Rodgers both have strong O-Lines and usually have all day to throw the ball.

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by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Feb 16, 2012 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with you completely

I really like Fleener in round 2. Clark is gone next year and Tamme may not be resigned. Brody is more of a blocking TE. Plus he has obvious familiarity with Luck (they were even roommates). There is a ton of depth at CB in this draft. Most of the safetys are 3rd round talent except for the kid from Alabama. A good nose tackle and a 3-4 DE can be had in later rounds too. My choice was defense, talent, o-line. We really only need to get another starting guard and center.

by Radcolt on Feb 16, 2012 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

I think Luck made Fleener seem better than he is

So I wouldn’t go with Fleener so early.

And defense is very important, but we can wait until next year for that. Focusing on the QB created a dynasty in Indianapolis… so its not a bad strategy. And hell when it fell apart, we have another shot at another great QB.

Defense is very important, but Luck’s development may hide a lot of our flaws everywhere else.

by DoItAlone on Feb 19, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Protection

I agree that we need to continue to develop last year’s bookend tackles and add to the interior of the OL. However, I think a little bit of a philosophical change is also in order for the OL. Luck always had a VERY good running game at Stanford, and due to his relatively ordinary (but very accurate) arm, I don’t see us employing a heavily pass-oriented offense like we currently have.

So, the implication for the offense is that we need add some better run blockers to the interior. Now, I’m impressed with Reitz, but I think he’s the only long-term solution we have in the interior. Most notably, we need a center to replace Saturday (most likely). We do have some guards with experience on the team to work with, like Tepper and Murphy, but adding a bigger-type guard in the mid-or late rounds seems appropriate. But, Id be looking hard at those center prospects in the 3rd or 4th round.

by Hetfield on Feb 16, 2012 11:12 AM EST reply actions